A versatile veteran of film, television and theater, Ken Jenkins now portrays Sacred Heart Hospital's caustic chief of medicine, Dr. Bob Kelso. "Although most people think my character is too rough on the interns," says Jenkins, "I've been told by some people in the medical field that their 'Dr. Bob' was much tougher. I think the staff just don't realize how hard Kelso's job is," he adds, sarcastically. Jenkins began his acting career performing in high school theater productions in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio. "As a teenager, I discovered a love for acting and theater arts that defined me for the rest of my life," he says. He went on to study drama at Antioch College while continuing to perform on Broadway and in regional companies throughout his college years. In 1969, he co-founded and served for three years as associate artistic director for the prestigious Actor's Theatre of Louisville, which became known as a breeding ground for some of America's best new playwrights, including Beth Henley and Marsha Norman. Jenkins continued to work with the theater as an actor, director and writer through 1983. Over his 30 years as an actor, Jenkins has been associated with an average of 10 plays a year as an actor, director or playwright. He has portrayed Hamlet and Cyrano de Bergerac, and performed in other classics by Shakespeare, Ibsen, Shaw and Molière. One of his favorite roles, however, was "The Duke," which he played opposite his son, Daniel Jenkins, in the 1985 Broadway musical, "Big River." In 1987 Jenkins appeared in John Sayles' critically acclaimed feature film, "Matewan," which opened his mind to the joy of working in film. Most recently seen in "The Sum of All Fears" with Morgan Freeman and "I Am Sam" with Sean Penn, his other feature-film credits include "Courage Under Fire," "Air America," "The Abyss" and "Last Man Standing." Jenkins' television credits include a co-starring role for two seasons on "Homefront," two seasons recurring on "Wiseguy," two seasons as Dad on "Oh, Baby," and guest-starring roles on "The X-Files," "Family Law" and "Chicago Hope." He has also starred in the television movies "Thirst," "Hiroshima" and "And the Band Played On." Jenkins is an avid woodworker and a skilled dog trainer. He has three sons, Matthew, Daniel and Joshua, and currently resides in Los Angeles.